Bill Russell
Head Coach
 Coaching
Experience:
31 Years including 28 years at Merced College
Bill Russell came to Merced,
California after graduating from South Side High school in Fort
Wayne, Indiana. In high school Bill participated in and lettered in
football, basketball and track. Upon graduating from high school,
one of the factors that would determine where Bill would go to
college was distance away from home. "I did not want to be too close
to home, so that if things got tough I would not just be able to get
up and go home. I wanted it to be a challenge_which would give me
time to think about the situation." states Coach Russell. The other
factors were where he could get a good education, play basketball
and participate in track. Merced College was the farthest away from
home. Bill has had no regrets in choosing Merced College, which was
a two year college. "Merced College allowed me two years to grow on
and off the court. I was so fortunate (blessed) to have had the
opportunity to go to a two year college, as it provided a strong
base for my final two years a the University of Pacific, states
Coach Russell.
Bill came to Merced College in
1973. In his two years as a Blue Devil, he played on the first
undefeated Blue Devil Conference team (1973-74), the first Blue
Devil team to make the State Finals (unfortunate loss to Menlo in
1973-74 season). He played in one of the most exciting State
Tournament Final four gamin in 1973-74, in which the Blue Devils
lost to Butte by one point. Bill's accolades at Merced College
included honorable mention all-conference (1973-74); First Team
All-Conference, J.C. All-American (1974-75) selection. Bill was also
named MVP on the Track and Field Team in 1974-75. "My two years at
Merced College were great. Even though we could not get that state
title for Coach Don Reid, we gave it a great run. However, I did
feel vindicated and great pride when Coach Reid did win the two
state titles 1977-78 and in 1978-79, thus beating both teams that
had eliminated our run in 1973 thru 1975", stated Coach Russell.
Prior to graduating from Merced
College, Bill accepted a Full-Basketball Scholarship to attend the
University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. Bill played for
Coach Stan Morrison for both years, and was award the Most
Courageous in the 1975-76 season; and was given the Mr. Hustle award
for the 1976-77 campaign. Bill graduated from the University of the
Pacific with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management in
1977. Further, Bill acquired his Masters Degree in Education and an
Administrative Credential from the University of San Francisco. "I
thought it was great being the small Bill Russell while working
towards my Masters Degree at USF", states Coach Russell.
After college Bill returned to Fort Wayne,
Indiana in which he became involved with the Old For YMCA basketball
programs. A phase of the program required a basketball clinic, in
which Bill would ask for the `Big Three' Junior College coaches from
California, one of which was Coach Don Reid.
In 1980 Bill returned to Merced
College to serve as assistant coach for head coach Don Reid. Bill
served as an assistant coach at Merced College for eight years.
"Working with Coach Reid was a pure pleasure, I had an opportunity
to learn so much under his tenure." says Coach Russell. In 1988 Bill
Russell was appointed as Merced College Men's Basketball Coach.
Doing so he has become only the third Head Coach in Blue Devil
basketball history (Charles `Chuck' Girardi took the reins when
Coach Reid took a leave of absence in 1984-85).
Since becoming the Head Coach at
Merced College, Bill's teams have won tournament championships and
conference titles, and Bill has been twice named coach of the Year
(1988-89 and 1990-91). Coach Russell states that there have been
many high moments and a few low moments as well. "Coaching has many
challenges every single day, it is just like breathing - each breath
can be a high or low, you want to hold on and not choke in between,
but I do love it", says Coach Russell.
In the Merced area Coach Russell
runs a basketball camp and a basketball class each summer. It is a
job that he truly enjoys doing. "I believe that playing basketball
is one to the greatest things in the world, it does not require
much, just a ball and hoop. However, to what degree one wants to get
good depends on the effort put forth in putting the ball in the
hoop" states Coach Russell.
Bill and his wife Cynthia reside
in Merced. They have one adult daughter, Danielle, who resides in
San Diego, California.
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